Operation of Yangcheon Urban Agriculture Park Seed Library

Expectations for Urban Agriculture Revitalization through Smart Technology-Based Urban Agriculture Education and Business Agreement with the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science under Rural Development Administration

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) is making Yangcheon Urban Agriculture Park (San 174-1, Sinwol-dong), which it operates, more innovative and substantial to prepare for low-carbon and green growth for the future and to cultivate the emotions of residents exhausted by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

First, a seed display box has been installed in the education center located within Yangcheon Urban Agriculture Park to satisfy residents' interest and curiosity about various crops.

The seed display box is filled with seeds of about 200 species of cultivated crops and flowers donated by the Rural Development Administration, Seoul Agricultural Technology Center, Gwangneung Arboretum, and others, allowing visitors to the urban agriculture park to view them anytime.

In addition, the district operates a seed library for residents on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., lending seeds and urban agriculture books.

The seed library is a program where seeds borrowed like books are cultivated and harvested seeds are voluntarily returned. Through continuous seed distribution, it introduces various plant species and was created to revitalize urban agriculture as a first step not only to regain healthy food but also to restore the genetic diversity of plants.

Consultation and information necessary for cultivation can also be received here.

Smart technology is also being applied to urban agriculture. An indoor plant hydroponic cultivator with IoT technology has been installed in the education center lecture room and will be used for urban agriculture education. A functional garden cultivating crops capable of future-oriented urban agriculture profit generation using resource circulation techniques is being established.

Furthermore, Yangcheon-gu plans to put great effort into revitalizing urban agriculture by signing a business agreement with the National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, a research institute under the Rural Development Administration, on July 29. Through academic and technical exchanges, they will develop urban agriculture content, verify the on-site application effects of urban agriculture park models and programs, and more.

Kim Soo-young, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, “Since the opening of Yangcheon Urban Agriculture Park in April 2019, the first in the southwestern region, we have supported residents' leisure activities by operating garden plot rentals and the Urban Farmer School, actively responding to the urban agriculture demands of residents interested in eco-friendly food.” He added, “We will create more diverse and future-oriented garden plots, continuously develop high-quality and complete urban agriculture programs, and do our best to make Yangcheon Urban Agriculture Park more beloved by residents.”